Will Victory Challenge Roar?

While Victory were winless in five before their 3-1 derby win over Melbourne Heart, they are undefeated in four outings, courtesy of three frustrating prior draws .

Those results, against the Mariners, Phoenix and Roar, could easily have gone their way but it’s the manner of their performances that should cause the rest of the competition concern.

They are the only team to have beaten Brisbane - and it should have been twice last weekend but for some (literally) short-sighted refereeing.

A form striker is a common amongst the league’s top teams and Victory have the most in-form at the moment in Robbie Kruse.

The 22-year-old has scored 10 times this season and is developing into a big game player, something that can be said for many of his teammates including fellow attacking duo Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez.

At the top of their games, the trio will be difficult for any team to stop.

Although it’ll be dismissed as just one win, the performances by Victory show how great a contender they can be in season six.

To make things all the better for Ernie Merrick’s men, the win on Saturday night all but ended the finals hopes of rival Heart.

Elsewhere in week 18, Adelaide, Brisbane and Gold Coast United continued on their merry ways while Central Coast had to settle for a late draw in Perth.

Adelaide United 2 (Marcos Flores 5’, Sergio van Dijk 17’)
North Queensland Fury 0
Crowd: 8786 @ Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide extended their unbeaten run at home to eight with a comfortable 2-0 victory over North Queensland Fury.

The Reds never looked troubled against a lacklustre Fury outfit and didn’t look back after scoring twice in the opening 17 minutes.

Marcos Flores was left unmarked to charge into the box and hammer a Paul Reid cut back past Justin Pasfield in the fifth minute.

Striker Sergio van Dijk took his season tally to eight and doubled the lead when Cassio was allowed too much room on the left, putting in a delightful cross for the Dutchman to head home.

Adelaide wanted more goals but it wasn’t to be, with a slightly improved second half effort from Fury.

Fury players looked out of touch, including Adelaide-bound youngster Osama Malik, and uncertainty over their futures looked at the forefront of their minds.

Arguably, there was a lack of effort and urgency against a side that is difficult to beat at home.

Adelaide have clashes with Heart and Glory in the coming weeks and the expectation to win both will show a lot more about them than Friday night’s win did.

Adelaide United: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2. Robert CORNTHWAITE (5. Daniel MULLEN 78’), 4. Iain FYFE, 6. CASSIO, 7. Lucas PANTELIS (17. Iain RAMSAY 63’), 8. Adam HUGHES, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Marcos FLORES (26. Joseph KEENAN 84’), 12. Paul REID, 13. Travis DODD (c), 18. Fabian BARBIERO

Unused sub: 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

North Queensland Fury: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT (21. Jason SPAGNUOLO 46’), 5. Mark HUGHES, 7. Gareth EDDS (c) (18. Brett STUDMAN 60’), 10. Dyron DAAL, 11. David WILLIAMS, 12. Panagiotis NIKAS, 13. Andre KILIAN, 16. Simon STOREY, 17. Osama MALIK, 24. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU (3. Brad MCDONALD 46’)

Unused sub: 28. Sebastian USAI (gk)

Yellow card: Nikas (86’)

Red cards: None

Man of the Match – It’s beginning to sound like a broken record but Adelaide United’s Marcos Flores was outstanding again. A truly inspired import and just what the A-League needs.

Key moment: A week of off-field confusion (thanks FFA!) obviously didn’t do Fury any good. They were absolutely played off the park and only managed two shots on goal all game. Ratings by Arabella Vaughan 

Melbourne Heart 1 (Gerald Sibon 17’)
Melbourne Victory 3 (Robbie Kruse 12’28’, Wayne Srhoj (og) 54’)
Crowd: 23,059 @ AAMI Park

Melbourne Victory exacted the perfect revenge over cross town rival Melbourne Heart with a commanding 3-1 win at AAMI Park.

The Kruse-control headlines were relevant as young striker Robbie headed to the top of the A-League scoring charts with a brace.

He opened the scoring with a smart striker’s finish as he ghosted into the near post to poke home a cut back from Archie Thompson.

Heart were on level terms when Gerald Sibon struck a dipping and whipping free kick into the corner of an unmoved Michael Petkovic’s net.

But parity didn’t last as Kruse capitalized on an error from Matt Thompson to again finish cleverly underneath the advancing Clint Bolton.

His maturity was on show as he took the early strike when in days gone by he may have taken a touch or two.

The win was sealed early in the second half in front of another blockbuster crowd when Wayne Srhoj bundled into his own net under heavy pressure from Adrian Leijer.

Victory looks at their title-winning best and can make a serious surge at the title if they can get on a roll.

Heart have struggled in recent weeks and despite finding the net, their finals dream is all but over unless they can record what would be an upset victory in Adelaide on Friday night.

Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 4. Simon COLOSIMO (c), 6. Matt THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 9. Gerald SIBON (8. Kristian SARKIES 46’), 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 15. John ALOISI, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 22. Nick KALMAR, 25. Adrian ZAHRA

Unused subs: 12. Peter ZOIS (gk), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 17. Jason HOFFMAN

Yellow cards: Kalmar (42’), Marrone (46’), Zahra (69’), Srhoj (90+2’)

Red cards: None

Melbourne Victory: 1. Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 2. Kevin MUSCAT (c), 5. Surat SUKHA, 7. Matthew KEMP, 8. Grant BREBNER, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 11. Marvin ANGULO, 14. Billy CELESKI (15. Tom PONDELJAK 46’), 16. Carlos HERNANDEZ (13. Diogo FERREIRA 69’), 21. Robbie KRUSE (3. Mate DUGANDZIC 75’), 23. Adrian LEIJER

Unused sub: 20. Sebastian MATTEI (gk)

Yellow card: Celeski (38’)

Red cards: None

Gold Coast United 2 (Bas van den Brink 22’, James Brown 67’)
Wellington Phoenix 0
Crowd: 1716 @ Skilled Park

Gold Coast United maintained their fine run of form with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Wellington Phoenix.

Bas van den Brink got on the scoresheet again with a well taken header that found its way into the net off the post.

Youngster James Brown was the first to react after a block from substitute goalkeeper Danny Vukovic to double the lead and effectively end the contest.

Vukovic was on after Mark Paston suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Phoenix have lost eight of 10 on the road this season and won’t be a finals threat unless that record is straightened.

Gold Coast, meanwhile, continues on their merry way despite another poor crowd, but the club will be hopeful more turn up when the gates are thrown open before Christmas.

Gold Coast United: 1. Glen MOSS (gk), 3. Michael THWAITE, 5. ROBSON (7. Zenon CARAVELLA 20’) (2. Steve PANTELIDIS 72’), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 10. Jason CULINA (c), 11. Bruce DJITE (19. Andrew BARISIC 82’), 13. Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 16. Kristian REES, 18. James BROWN, 22. Adama TRAORE, 24. John CURTIS

Unused sub: 20. Scott HIGGINS (gk)

Yellow cards: Djulbic (50’), Brown (70’), Barisic (84’), Rees (89’)

Red cards: None

Wellington Phoenix: 1. Mark PASTON (gk) (19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk) 43’), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 6. Tim BROWN, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE (7. Leo BERTOS 69’), 11. DANIEL (21. Marco ROJAS 59’), 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c)

Unused subs:  23. Dylan MACALLISTER

Yellow cards: Lia (26’), Sigmund (49’), Durante (52’), North (65’)

Red cards: None

Man of the match: Gold Coast United’s marquee man Jason Culina put in a good 90 minutes, however, Bas van den Brink’s goal scoring antics just got him over the line in the man of the match category; another great game for the big central defender.

Key moment: Wellington Phoenix’s attackers had a number of missed chances they probably won’t want to see replayed, none more so than Chris Greenacre, who was left wondering what exactly he had to do to score. AV

Sydney FC 0
Brisbane Roar 1 (Kosta Barbarouses 41’)
Crowd: 7554 @ Sydney Football Stadium

To see the fans at the SFS...

Brisbane Roar extended their unbeaten run to 16 with a 1-0 win at bogey venue Sydney Football Stadium - and what a delightful winner it was too.

Mitch Nichols fed Jean Carlos Solorzano, who spotted the early run of Kosta Barbarouses to feed him with an exquisite through ball, and the striker finished with aplomb from the angle.

Sydney FC remain within touching distance of the top six but can’t get on a streak of decent results.

Little more can be said about Roar as they await finals football.

Sydney FC: 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 3. Stephan KELLER, 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 7. Brendan GAN (24. Dimitri PETRATOS 46’), 9. Bruno CAZARINE (2. Sebastian RYALL 80’), 12. Shannon COLE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 16. Terry ANTONIS (14. Alex BROSQUE 46’), 19. Mark BRIDGE, 22. Sung Hwan BYUN

Unused sub: 1. Liam REDDY (gk)

Yellow cards: Cole (25’), Foxe (90+1’)

Red cards: None

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matthew SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (14. Rocky VISCONTE 84’), 15. Matt MCKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK

Unused subs: 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk),18. Luke BRATTAN, 21. James MEYER

Yellow card: Smith (49’)

Red cards: None

Man of the match – A typically energetic outing from Brisbane Roar’s Matt McKay helped his team to a comfortable victory. The club captain celebrated the signing of a new three-year contract by controlling the game for most of the 90 minutes.

Key Moment – It may have occurred before play even began but Vitezslav Lavicka’s pre-game instructions gave little hope of Sydney actually winning the match. By the time his team broke out of their overly defensive structure they had already fallen behind on the scoreboard. Ratings by Matt Dorman

Perth Glory 1 (Josh Mitchell 4’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Patrick Zwaanswijk 87’)
Crowd: 6536 @ nib Stadium

Perth Glory were forced to settle for a late 1-1 draw with Central Coast Mariners after the home side went ahead early, courtesy of defender Josh Mitchell, who finished smartly with a lob after a corner from Robbie Fowler.

Glory looked hom and dry until the Mariners equalised late on in controversial circumstances.

Substitute striker Daniel McBreen knocked a ball down for Patrick Zwaanswijk to nod home the leveller.

Glory coach Ian Ferguson was left fuming post-game in protest of a non-decision he thought should’ve been paid to Josh Risdon for a foul by McBreen in the lead up.

It wasn’t to be for Perth but Graham Arnold will be happy enough to escape with a point.

Perth Glory: 1. Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Jamie COYNE, 5. Jamie HARNWELL, 9. Robbie FOWLER, 12. Scott NEVILLE (c) (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 20’), 14. Steven McGARRY, 15. Howard FONDYKE, 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 22. Anthony SKORICH (11. Branko JELIC 80’), 24. Josh RISDON

Unused subs: 20. Alex PEARSON (gk), 22. Andrija JUKIC

Yellow card: Fowler (33’)

Red cards: None

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 11. Oliver BOZANIC (17. Chris DOIG 77’), 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 22. Mustafa AMINI (10. Patricio PEREZ 52’), 23. Adam KWASNIK (2. Daniel McBREEN 52’)

Unused sub: 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Man of the Match – Perth Glory fullback Josh Risdon put in a performance well beyond his 18 years of age. Composure in defence and a number of dangerous crosses from the right flank are strong indicators of his talent. Ian Ferguson would be well advised to give the youngster an extended run in the first team.

Key Moment – Robbie Fowler’s failure to make any impression on Michael McGlinchey’s late surge forward allowed the Mariners man to deliver the game-equalling cross. Utter exhaustion can be the only explanation for an alarming lack of defensive pressure from Fowler. MD

Weekend Break: Newcastle Jets

Mid-week: Newcastle Jets v Gold Coast United @ EnergyAustralia Stadium, North Queensland Fury v Sydney FC @ Dairy Farmers Stadium

Hyundai A-League 2010/11 League Table

Hyundai A-League 2010/11 - Leading Goal-Scorers

10 - Robbie KRUSE

8 - Jean Carlos SOLORANZO, Sergio VAN DIJK

7 - Kosta BARBAROUSES, Robbie FOWLER, Paul IFILL

6 - Alex BROSQUE, Bruno CAZARINE, Adam KWASNIK, Matt SIMON

5 - Tim BROWN, Jason CULINA, Marcos FLORES, REINALDO, Gerald SIBON, David WILLIAMS

4 - Iain FYFE, Chris GREENACRE, Marko JESIC, Mathew LECKIE, Mitch NICHOLS

3 - John ALOISI, Leo BERTOS, Thomas BROICH, Shannon COLE, Bruce DJITE, Mark HUGHES, Nick KALMAR, Chris PAYNE, Iain RAMSAY, Mile STERJOVSKI, Bas VAN DEN BRINK, Patrick ZWAANSWIJK

2 - Eli BABALJ, James BROWN, Dyron DAAL, Dino DJULBIC, Travis DODD, Mate DUGANDZIC, Ivan FRANJIC, Rostyn GRIFFITHS, Chris GROSSMAN, Carlos HERNANDEZ, Branko JELIC, Daniel MCBREEN, Matt MCKAY, Kevin MUSCAT, Scott NEVILLE, Patricio PEREZ, Sasho PETROVSKI, Joel PORTER, Joshua ROSE, Ben SIGMUND, Shane SMELTZ, Matt SMITH, Ufuk TALAY, Alex TERRA, Archie THOMPSON, Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

1 - Michael BAIRD, Andrew BARISIC, Grant BREBNER, Mark BRIDGE, Michael BRIDGES, Jeremy BROCKIE, Leigh BROXHAM, Billy CELESKI, Isaka CERNAK, Robert CORNTHWAITE, John CURTIS, Luke DEVERE, Gareth EDDS, Brendan GAN, Rhyan GRANT, Labinot HALITI, Jamie HARNWELL, Scott JAMIESON, Francis JEFFERS, Stephan KELLER, Adrian LEIJER, Matthew LEWIS, Dylan MacALLISTER, Terry MCFLYNN, Josh MITCHELL, Daniel MULLEN, Massimo MURDOCCA, Erik PAARTALU, Steve PANTELIDIS, Adriano PELLEGRINO, Tom PONDELJAK, Paul REID, RICARDINHO, ROBSON, Sean ROONEY, Eugene SSEPPUYA, Simon STOREY, Matt THOMPSON, Adama TRAORE, Rodrigo VARGAS, Rocky VISCONTE, Nick WARD, Alex WILKINSON, Rutger WORM, Adrian ZAHRA